Art has been with us since humans first made their mark. However the documentation of those marks came much later.

And this is where Art Made Clear sheds important light on how that analysis would begin to give art historical context.

We touch base during the 1st century, just before analytical approaches to art began.

Before the rise of religious behemoths. When art, in terms of present day, was largely seen as a craft.This is where the beginnings of patronage in both religious and political hierarchy took hold within the arts.The Renaissance of the 14th to 17th centuries kick started art categorisation and criticism.Done by historically looking at, and reviving past classicism of great empires. It grew through the Renaissance and Enlightenment years across Europe, through the heady heights of the Dutch Golden Age and Europe’s plunderous sea-faring colonisations.

And with French revolution, industrialisation, more questioning in areas of science and philosophy. The game changing 1800’s avante-garde Impressionists, monarchical declines and two world wars later, would see the commodification of art, as a somewhat cynical wealth insurance that divides the art world today.

The basic idea of art having potential to send a strong message pre-printing press,was as familiar with the Ancient Greeks, and the Medici family of Florence circa 1300’s as it is now with the mega brand name galleries dotted across the globe.The difference is subtle in terms of the relevance of content, but ultimately the same. Power.